Opening the Door of Mercy

HOUSTON - In keeping with the Holy Year of Mercy, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter opened a Door of Mercy at Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, the future cathedral of the Ordinariate.

The Ordinariate’s Door of Mercy was opened on Dec. 13, the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) and the first Sunday following the start of the Year of Mercy, which began Dec. 8.

The Pope called for a Jubilee of Mercy to invite the Church to rediscover God’s mercy and “render more clear her mission to be a witness to mercy,” he said in his March 2015 announcement of the Jubilee Year.
“I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time,” the pope said in his announcement.

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the start to the Year of Mercy, on Dec. 8.

The holy doors opened at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, at Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston and at cathedrals, churches and sanctuaries around the world represent an entry to God’s mercy and Christ Himself (“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” - John 10:9).

The Year of Mercy lasts from Dec. 8, 2015 (the Solemnity of the Immaculate conception) until Nov. 20, 2016 (the Feast of Christ the King).
Photos courtesy of Our Lady of Walsingham